Thread: CBO:SCHIP Expansion Moves 1.9 M Kids from Private to Public

Congressional Budget Office: SCHIP Expansion Moves 1.9 Million Kids from Private Insurance to the Dole

Wednesday, January 28, 2009
By Matt Cover

(CNSNews.com) – More than 1.9 million American children will be taken off of private health insurance and moved to government health care if Congress approves expansions to the SCHIP program sought by Congressional Democrats, according to a 2008 analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

Expanding the SCHIP program could also cause employers to scale back or eliminate workers’ health benefits, according to a 2007 CBO study of the program.

SCHIP, or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, is a joint federal-state program designed to provide healthcare coverage to children whose parents cannot afford private coverage.

The 2008 report, delivered to Congress on Sept. 3, examines the increases in enrollment in SCHIP and outlines where those new children will be coming from – whether from the ranks of the uninsured or from the already-insured.

The CBO found that 2.5 million previously uninsured children would be added to the federal health-care rolls, mostly from low-income families. The 1.9 million who would move from private insurance would come from mostly middle-income families who can already afford health care – families who are not the intended targets of the bill.

This phenomenon, known as crowd-out, undermines the intent of SCHIP by moving resources away from poor children and toward those who don’t need government assistance.

According to a 2007 CBO summary of SCHIP, crowd-out could also create incentives for employers not to offer dependent coverage at all, since low-income employees’ children would be eligible for SCHIP.

“If employers of low-wage workers believe that SCHIP makes health insurance less important in attracting high-quality employees,â€

This will be an even bigger scam than the government thinks! I have friends who are not married, but living together and own a house. She has a teen daughter and doesn't make much. Her boyfriend makes more than my husband and I combined. Her daughter gets CHIP and the coverage is way more than the insurance we pay for! What is wrong with this picture?!?! Prescriptions, dental, medical, everything covered for the lowest copays.

We have no dental and no prescription and have to pay out of pocket.

What's the difference? I am married and she is not. That's it! Her boyfriend's salary does not have to be disclosed, because they're not married. What's wrong with this picture?!?!?!

This is why welfare has so many "single" parents.

What's the difference? I am married and she is not. That's it! Her boyfriend's salary does not have to be disclosed, because they're not married. What's wrong with this picture?!?!?!

This is why welfare has so many "single" parents.

Exactly. And why this will do the same. Still doesn't do a thing for the adults who are taking care of these kids either. Even poor parents usually sacrifice all they can to make sure their sick child gets care, even to their own demise......unless of course they're pregnant. It's not like 18 is the magic number where health is perfect and not requiring any care. What if your a child diabetic and require life long care? Treated as a kid and then tossed under the bus once you turn 18? Or whatever other magic number they pull out of their hat.